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“Trust Lovie” Doesn’t Apply At Guard

Richie Incognito is being scouted and probed right now by the Bucs, and if signed, legions of Tampa Bay fans will feel at peace, assuming Incognito doesn’t reside on their street.

But why?

Lovie Smith and Jason Licht and their scouting team studied the guard position this offseason and determined that the best fits for Tampa Bay were Jamon Meredith and Oneil Cousins (prized unrestricted free agent signings) wounded Carl Nicks, fifth-round rookie Kadeem Edwards, plus no-NFL-snap candidates Jace Daniels and Patrick Omameh.

After one preseason game, Lovie announced Meredith was ousted from his starting job and would focus on the tackle position.

Keep in the mind the Bucs booted decent guard/center Jeremy Zuttah, waved goodbye to Ted Larsen, who happened to get hired in Arizona by Licht’s old bosses, (Larsen started the Cardinals third preseason game at left guard.) and Davin Joseph will make the Rams and has impressed his new team.

Joe points this out because it seems legions of Bucs fans are pounding their chests saying “Trust Lovie. Sign Incognito.” Sorry, but Joe doesn’t trust Lovie when it comes to offensive lines. Defense? Absolutely. But not O-line, which was a huge weakness for Lovie in Chicago, and he hasn’t proven he knows how to improve in that area.

Joe’s poll of Bucs fans yesterday revealed about 80 percent are aching for Incognito. But why exactly is sleazy Incognito a sure bet to get off his couch at 31 years old and start playing good football under the added pressure of playing under a microscope from new teammates?

Is Joe or any fan supposed to bow down and believe the Bucs have solved their guard scouting woes? Even the offensive line coach, George Warhop, was in on the mess after he clearly endorsed bringing Cousins with him from Cleveland.

They blew it in the offseason by getting rid of those three guys. I think every fan was wondering when they’d finish their restructure of the o-line, and then was stunned that they thought they were done.

I am part of the minority who thinks we should avoid Richie Scumbagnito. I can’t believe anyone in Tampa could possibly want MORE drama after what fans have had to endure over the past few years. Sure, the o-line has issues, but nothing compared to the negative media attention that would surely follow this guy.

Can’t have it both ways Joe. First the seemingly endless consternation about the OG quandary, more of the same regarding the potential fix.

What both ways? Joe was all but pounding on a table for the Bucs to select a guard higher in the draft, begging for the regime not to bank on Carl Nicks, perplexed immediately by the trade of Zuttah. If Joe believed Incognito was a “fix,” then Joe would be excited about a potential signing. –Joe

I think most fans are just in a position where they didn’t really understand how bad the guard play was in training camp. Now after seeing the preseason games and watching defenses just whoopin our butts are the fans starting to freak out.

Freaking out now when its so late in the game and there really isn’t a lot out there. Boone is a long shot at best and it seems like the feeling is anything is better than what we have at this point.

I hear your concerns about him but i think our team has the leadership to make sure it isn’t a problem moving forward plus i am sure richie has learned some life lessons at this point and eaten a big piece of humble pie.

As long as Lovie is the HC the o-line will be our Achilles heel…he truly has no idea how important the position is to winning in today’s NFL, this isn’t 2003 it’s 2014, offense wins the season, defense wins the Super Bowl, but you have to get there first….

Mediocre QB, mediocre (at best) oline and it is all part of the well constructed “plan” by do-no-wrong Lovie and his egotistical lapdog rookie GM! Even starting to hear defensive players come out endorsing Incognito because they know how broken this oline is! What a debacle and self-inflicted injury by HC/GM.

I knew this would happen, the guy comes in for a visit and the media is lining up to let anyone who doesn’t agree with their “conventional wisdom” that they are small minded bigots, racists or homophobes.

Sir, what the hell are you talking about. This post is about scouting. –Joe

Make no mistakes Bucs fans,that’s where all this is leading. I’m a little surprised by the Joe’s reaction I thought they might be a little more open minded unlike the columnists and so called morning talk show hosts( or more correctly self appointed moral compasses).

Joe’s very open-minded. Joe opened his mind, studied Incognito, and isn’t interested. –Joe

Even if Inconito IS a bigger scumbag than Chaz Manson I’m willing to bet the character of McCoy, Jackson, Mckown and David would soon having him see the light and row in the right direction. I don’t really care if they take him or not,it would be stupid not to if he can help, but I’m sick of being preached at and told what I should think and what I should feel.

I dont know how cheap he will be. Would hate to throw money at the dude if he’s gonna suck on the field and be a dick. Maybe they’ll put a douche clause in his contract which will void any obligation if he acts up. Otherwise Im withholding judgement and supporting him and the Bucs. Just win.

You’re getting pretty ridiculous with this whole thing, I don’t like the guy either but at the end of the day if he makes the bucs better I’m all for it. Keep in mind his Miami teammates loved him…except for Martin…
And you probably believe all his potential Bucs teammates are really eager to embrace him right now, too. –Joe

Unless it’s a 500k base salary with $1 incentive I don’t want this. I’d rather have a terrible year offensively, an offensive Offensive year and go get us a beastly OL or 3 come draft time. The defense will keep us in enough games xD
Joe – was it hard not to shout “NOOOOOOOOOO” every time Incognito’s name was mentioned at the press conference?

What they have done to the OFFENSIVE line is what has me worried. I saw what Schiano did in not resigning Michael Bennett last year. This regime has made the same mistake with the O-Line this year. They need to consult with me before making any more decisions…

You really think Joe that Lovie decides and makes all the decisions on who plays on the Oline? Your sure he doesn’t leave that decision to his Oline coach & offensive coach’s, Really? He didn’t have great Oline’s in Chicago so that’s all Lovie’s fault? He didn’t rely on his coaching staff to make those decisions?

Joe you also saw Martin creating his own holes and making tacklers miss. No help from the oline as shown when rainey carried the ball. You want Martin to carry the offense, which he did against the Bills and then you want to sit him over a rookie who could even make it to week 1. Good luck trying to run or throw behind that line. They don’t even know how to pick up a blitz. Let get real folks.

YeahIt’sMe- Lovie hired all of his coaches and essentially his GM too. Do-no-wrong Lovie and his lapdog GM are the final word on what players are on this roster. So yeah, it is Lovie’s fault. He’s the head coach!!!! Not complicated

True, but teams haven’t really done the hard cutting yet. Cutting the first 15 (from 90 to 75) is surely a lot easier than cutting the next 22 (75 to 53). Besides, I’m sure this next cut is where we’ll find several high-priced veteran offensive linemen with guard potential who were beaten out by inexpensive, high-draft rookies. Teams don’t seem to want to pay big bucks for backups.

Then there’s always trades, and we’ve got some trade potential.

Not ideal to bring in new potential starters after preseason is over, but better than shooting ourselves in the foot long-term.

I voted no. We had MRSA in the locker room last year and why invite the infection back? Incognito is not the second coming and mean and nasty has nothing to do with. He is a complete jerk, an ass and about as smart as a door knob. I was sick about the moves Lovie made on the O line, but not enough to force this scum on our locker room.

Zuttah is a Center. The Bucs got a better Center in EDS. The Bucs made Zuttah play G for a long time but he wanted to play center. That’s probably why they traded him after getting EDS because he didn’t want to go back to Guard and the Bucs didn’t force him to play G for them.

Some fans seem to think that because it’s football, character and basic decency to other human being doesn’t matter. They think they’re hard or tough. They like to call Jonathan Martin weak minded or a pu$$y. They think it’s manly to treat people like trash. They think that all of this controversy is about political correctness. They’re excuse makers. They’re crusty bitter old men, or ignorant rednecks. Basically, they’re a$$holes.

Joe, this is getting borderline obsessive. Honestly how is what Richie did any different then what Sapp use to do to Chidi? Only difference is Chidi atleast stood up for himself and fought instead of being a puss, quiting & going to the media. There should be no question of weather or not he is an upgrade on our current OG situation and if you listen the comments coming from players, especially McCoy & Dotson I really dont think there would be an issue in the loccer room. If Im wrong and he does cause a problem, then Im sure he will quickly be shown the door.

Dallasbuc – Obviously you got a problem with Lovie since you say the same crap about him everyday. We get it. Your not happy. But your an ass to menton it everyday Do you really think the 99%of fans who like Lovie really care that you don’t? LOL . All leaders trust in there staff, just cause you got a problem with Lovie doesn’t mean he cant have a great Oline eventually. GO LOVIE!!! GO BUCS!!!

The Bucs fans just want a winning team now. Somebody will sign Incognito eventually. I don’t think he would blow up this team regardless of his shenanigans. Is the opposition because he is a white guy, while the rest of the team is black besides the QB? What does a white guy have to do to get a job in today’s NFL? The NFL must stand for the Negro Football League. Those in favor of bringing in Incognito outnumber those opposing 100 to 1.

I strongly doubt they’re going to sign him. They read the news as much as we do. Knowing the firestorm a simple visit has kicked up – I think they’re going to defer to the current talent and scan the waiver wire this weekend for some depth. They’re going to be some interesting names that get cut – and – if worst comes to worst we can always dangle a draft pick for a guy (like Rishaw) who could be an upgrade.

This is the Bucs leaving no stone unturned, recognizing their weaknesses. Is it too late? Are they screwed to play this season with a QB one missed block away from the concussion list? We’re all going to have to wait and see.

YeahItsMe- are you telling us that EDS is a better center than Zuttah? By that you are also saying that do-no-wrong Lovie and his rookie lapdog GM know more about offensive linemen than the Bmore front office and coaching staff! That’s hilarious!!!

Orca – I was going to set you straight but I don’t think you could handle even being bullied with words. Maybe you should find a good badminton team to root for. LOL!! The Morality police want a perfect football team or nothing. You cant control the whole world or the Bucs Locker room. 80% of Bucs fans want to see if Incognito has grown as a person and can help this team WIN. And Lovie feels the same way. Holier than thou ?

Orca: I’m not saying the things Incognito said and did was right. But, Martin could have stop this by standing up from himself. It’s called self love and self respect. Or pride or confidence. He didn’t set his boundaries and even played like it was ok for a while. If someone offends you, then say so. You’re not obligated to take the abuse. A simple private conversation could have fixed this. If Incognito was warned and kept it up, then feel free to have a confrontation or just avoid them. Martin still hung out with Incognito through out these “abuse.” Martin has options and not totally innocent here. The only time Martin and Incognito should have seen each other was just at the team building. Not at his house and other event.

YeahItsMe- I don’t have a problem with Lovie. In fact, I predicted that we would gifted him last year after we were embarrassed on national television by the panthers en route to 0-8. My “do-no-wrong Lovie” bit is an indictment on the media and mostly the fan base. You prove it! What I do have a problem with is some of the very questionable decisions he and his new GM have made, like dumping the existing and very serviceable oline and replacing it with this crap stick we have now! As a fan it is my right to criticize any aspect of my team that I choose. Got a problem with that?

No I don’t have to tell you that EDS is better. The NFL knows he’s better. EDS was wanted by many teams including the great Green Bay Packers. Zuttah was traded for a 5th rd pck next year. If Zuttah was so great why wasn’t there a stamped by NFL teams to get him? And for a higher draft pick? And even for a pick in 2014 not 2015? Stop trying to think your some kind of GM. Your not. Your just a poster on a Bucs blog. LOL!!! Nothing more.

YeahItsMe- if a team wants you, they keep you. Packers wanted him so bad they let him walk! Just because our lapdog rookie GM got a late round pick for a starting center says more about him and ability to do his job well than it does the player. After all, Zuttah is starting for the Ravens and all they had to do was give up a late round pick. There is a concensus out there at this point getting rid of Zuttah was a mistake. Only people not admitting it are the rook GM and smart guys like you!

Either joe loves the player or hates the player..no in between. Never seen so much love for johnny football, and so much hate for Richie incognito. Every post is about richie and its all negative. ? If the players accept him and he can help us, why post all day negative stories. If we start out 0-5 you will be the first to bitch we didnt sign anyone ..

Joe, maybe they would want him as a teammate how would any of us know? Have you talked to the players about it? I mean come on man, if he makes the team better why not sign him if the price was right? If he sucks on the field thn don’t cut him but I’m all for making this team better regardless of the character of the player. I’m pretty sure these are grown men and if they want him around he will be.

YeahItsMe- did I say EDS sucks? Need to put words in my mouth to make an arguement completely unrelated to what I have actually said. Well done. I am not trying to be a GM, just criticizing the moves that ours has made…and you! You are not having an easy time reading for comprehension or understanding how debate works. Sorry man.

I think you’re taking the ‘trust Lovie” opinion out of context. I agree 1 MILLION percent with everything you said about decisions made this offseason (in addition to the fact that he drafted Carimi in the first round and couldn’t build an O line for Crap in Chicago).
However, “trust Lovie” refers to the whole ‘whether he’s going to be a detriment to the locker room/ is he controllable/ has he changed” concept
I’m scared as hell looking at this guy’s history – but again I don’t think we can afford not to add some SERIOUS talent on the OL.

See this is how wars are started = I don’t get my way wa wa wa all the way home said this little piggy.. Let the pros run the team.. Its only your opinion and its nowhere written in stone just your opinion. My opinion is people here call people names, happens here alot joe and is not name calling and such what ruined the miami team.. Were no better..